Romans Chapter
Four Lesson 54
Justification Illustrated
4. Justification by faith applied to us, its
relevancy
- The point Paul is making here is that Abraham and his
faith has an important
application to people living today!
- Every time the condition shall be fulfilled
[faith/belief] then the same imputation will certainly take place.
- What does Paul relate as the object of faith here? "in Him"
"in Him who raised Jesus our Lord"
= God the Father in the context.
- Paul links Christ's resurrection to God/F;
- Faith is never a blind leap in a God who is not known,
who is totally unknown;
- Faith trusts in the God of forgiving grace who is
revealed fully in the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
** Quote from C.H. Mackintosh:
"Abraham
was called to believe in a promise, whereas we are privileged to believe in an
accomplished fact. He was called to look
forward to something which was to be done;
We look
back on something that is done, even an accomplished redemption, attested by
the fact of a risen and glorified Savior at the right hand of the majesty in
the heavens."
What we have
here is a statement of the efficacy of the Cross work of Christ!
With this
verse Paul is saying that what God set out to do was accomplished completely.
- Paul relates Jesus death to:
#1. our sins, [committed] "transgressions" = para,ptwma
step over line;
#2. our justification, was accomplished this
is proved by His resurrection;
Summary - Observation;
1. Paul has clearly dealt with man's condition before God; all under God's wrath,
all under sin, all because of rebellion
and suppression of the truth.
2. The provision for deliverance of the sinner from this wrath is only
through the gracious and substitutionary death of Jesus;
It is the
only way to attain a standing before God that is, to be justified before
God. 3:21-31
3. He demonstrated the indispensability of faith as the only way of securing this
acquittal before God by the illustration of Abraham.
4. He will next take up in some depth the issues surrounding how to
live and grow as a member of the family of God.
But he
first tackles the question,
Now that your justified what are the benefits of freedom from the
wrath of God. 5:1-11
Romans Chapter 5 - Results of Justification by faith.
INTRO: Have a major shift in thrust and focus with chapter
5.
1. We have here the most comprehensive statement in the Bible on the
results of justification by faith.
5:1-11
2. Paul addresses those who are justified! not those who need
to be justified as he has been in the previous section.
3. We may not always live up to our calling in Christ; we may not be
walking worthy as Paul exhorts us so often; but one thing we know, that as a believer, in our position before
God, there is NO wrath between God and us!
4. 2 Key phrases or really verbs; closely associated with justified,
establish the flow of the context;
#1
5:1 "we have" present tense; sets the focus for 5:1-8; that
is on present blessings
#2
5:9 "we shall be" future tense; focus of 5:9-11 is on future
blessings; eternal standing
5. Overview:
5:1-11
a. 5:1-5 Inventory of God's
grace to the believer!
Its a
look at your assets as a believer, your checkbook.
1. peace 5:1
2. access 5:2a
3. standing 5:2b
4. hope 5a; 5:2c;
5.
exult/joy in tribulations [CHP's] 5:3a
6. knowledge
5:3b-4 this knowledge
focuses on our understanding of the pressures of life
7. love of God 5:5a
8. H/S is given
5:5b
b. 5:6-8 Exhibition of God's
Grace [exhibited in 2 places]
1. in the death of Christ 5:6-7
2. in the love of God/F 5:8
c. 5:9-11
Implication of God's Grace; Paul
uses the much more logic; since he
justified us, the ungodly, an enemy;
- There are 2 aspects of the much more here!
That is from the standpoint of the Father
#1 and from the standpoint of the Son #2
1st of the
Father vs:9
future deliverance from the wrath of God!
So #1 is
immunity from wrath future!
2nd is
from the standpoint of the Son vs:10-11
- We're saved thru His life [power to keep us]
- We are
reconciled to God through Christ
Chapter 5
is like a transition between justification by faith, or how to get into the
family of God and sanctification, how to live in the family, which doesn't come
up until chapter 6.
With
chapter 5 we have the emphasis on what has been accomplished for us, provided
for us through Christ!
- Notice the strong thread that winds throughout the context. 5:1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19, 21